Afghanistan: winter assistance and Eid fare for Afghan detainees

17-11-2004 News Release 04/134

As part of a wide-scale winter assistance programme, the ICRC is supplying hygiene items and warm clothes to over 4,000 detainees in jails run by the Afghan National Security Directorate and the Ministries of Justice and the Interior.

In recent days, prisoners have received sweaters or patoo shawls, traditional long shirts and trousers known as shalwar kameez, jackets, shoes, socks, blankets and soap for bathing and doing laundry. The largest single distribution was made to some 900 prisoners in Pul-i-Charki jail outside Kabul on 31 October.

" The assistance that we give supplements what the authorities themselves may be able to provide, " explains Philip Spoerri, head of the ICRC's delegation in Afghanistan. " It is part of the ICRC's regular protection work in places of detention around the world. "

As it does every year, the ICRC has marked Eid al-Fitr – the festival that ends the month of Ramadan – by delivering dates, sugar and tea to detainees in Afghan jails in Kabul and major cities throughout Afghanistan. In the same spirit, delegates have distributed Eid sweets and fresh food to detainees being held in US detention facilities at Bagram and Kandahar.